Northeast baseball concludes regular season against DMACC

NORFOLK, Neb. – After taking the first game of the doubleheader 12-8, the Northeast Community College baseball team had a tough time holding off the Des Moines Area Community College offense, falling 15-6 on Friday at Veteran's Memorial Field in Norfolk, Neb.

The Bears took both games on Saturday 8-1 and 17-12, to win the four-game series.

The Hawks (27-17, 16-12 ICCAC) did just enough on Friday, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the second inning. Northeast went on to add three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to hold off DMACC.

Drew Smith (Elkhorn, Neb.) propelled the Hawks at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, a triple and a home run. Spencer Weber (Bennington, Neb.) added two hits, two runs, two RBI a stolen base and a home run.

Cam Taylor (Bellevue, Neb.) picked up his seventh win of the season, tossing four innings, allowing three earned runs off six hits, while walking six batters and striking out four. Alex Potter (Parker, Colo.) picked-up his eighth save of the season, throwing one and one-third innings, allowing no hits, no runs, while walking two.

In Game Two, the Hawks built a 6-1 lead heading into the fifth inning, but DMACC had other plans. The Bears went on to score 14 runs in the final five innings.

Derek Botaletto (Omaha, Neb.) went 3-for-5 at the plate, with two runs, two RBI and a home run. Smith added two home runs and three RBI, while Christian Dumont (Bellevue, Neb.) had two doubles.

Dylan Nicholson (Papillion, Neb.) was dealt the loss, after coming in relief for starter Lane Koetter (Grand Junction, Colo.). Nicholson faced only two batters and allowed a hit and a walk.

DMACC came out firing on all cylinders on Saturday, allowing only four hits in the first game of the doubleheader.

Donovan Warren (Omaha, Neb.) went 2-for-3 with a run.

Andrew Shaw (Dillon, Colo.) tossed six innings to take the loss after giving up four earned runs off six hits, while striking out five and walking two.

After an hour and 51-minute rain delay, it was a back-and-forth offensive affair. DMACC came out on top, thanks to a grand slam in the top of the ninth inning to take the final game of the series.

David Richardson (Bellevue, Neb.) went 3-for-5 with three RBI, two runs, a double and a home run to pace the Hawks. Botaletto collected two doubles, while Cale Hlavac (Omaha, Neb.), Smith and Dumont all had home runs.

Hunter Kelchner (Grand Junction, Colo.) took the mound for Northeast, but lasted just an inning, surrounding four earned runs off three hits, while walking two.

The Hawks drew the four seed in the Region XI Tournament, squaring off with Kirkwood Community College at Noon on Thursday in Clinton, Iowa.

For all news related to Northeast Community College athletics, visit northeasthawks.com for complete coverage. Fans can also follow the Hawks on Twitter @NortheastHawks for game-day coverage.